ARAMS POST SEEN GOING TO WPM

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4—Gen. Fred C. Weyand, the last commander of American forces in South Vietnam, is expected to assume the burden of rebuilding a post‐Vietnam Army from Gen. Creighton W. Abrams, the Army Chief of Staff, who died early this morning.

General Weyand, who has been Vice Chief of Staff of the Army for the last year, automatically became Acting Chief of Staff with General Abrams's death. Within the Pentagon, General Weyand is regarded as the leading and logical mididate to be nominated by President Ford to a four‐year term as Army Chief of Staff.

General Abrams died at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center from complications that developed during his recovery from removal of a cancerous lung. He was 59 years old and had seen his 38 years of Army service, including combat in three wars, culminate in nearly two years’ service as the Army's top general.

General Abrams will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery at 12:30 P.M. ‘Friday following services at the Memodal Chapel at Fort Myers, Va. A memorial service will be held for General Abrams tomorrow at the Mall entrance to the Pentagon.

General Abrams, who directed the withdrawal of American forces from Vietnam, died be fore he could complete what he regarded as his major final assignment — rebuilding the Army after the Vietnam war., Within the Army staff, however, a common judgment was that General Abrams had al nore profound impact upon the Army than any other Chief of Staff in recent history.

In a handwritten statement, Defense Secretary James R. Schlesinger, who developed a frequently expressed personal affection for the gruff, monosyllabic general, described General Abrams as “an authentic national hero” with “an iability to inspire men, which we know as leadership.”

President Ford issued a statement calling General’ Abrams “an American hero in the best tradition a colorful, courageous leader who won the admiration and respect of enemies as well as allies and subordinates.”

“In the heat of battle, and in the gray corridors of the Pentagon, he proved that he was that rare combination—a than of action who was also a first‐class administrator,” the President said.

Under different circumstances, General Abrams could well have become chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff earlier this year, but Mr. Schlesinger decided it was more important that General Abe, as he liked to call him, remain in his job of rebuilding the Army.

One of General Abrams's major accomplishments, in the opinion of Army officials, was the inspiration of a new pride and sense of mission within an army that was demoralized affer‐the Vietnam war. In Army corridors today two commonly heard views were that General, Abrams, with his warm, person al touch, had given a new sense of purpose to the Army, staff and had restored a sense of rapport between the officers and enlisted men.

General Weyand, who began his Army career as graduate of the Reserve Officer Tralnin” Corp from the University of California in 1938, has been closely identified with General Abrams's policies, both in Vietnam and in the Pentagon.

Called to Pentagon

When General Abrams left Saigon in mid‐1972 to become Army Chief of Staff, General Weyand, who is now 57 years old, succeeded him as commanding general of the United States Army in Vietnam. After a brief tour as commander of the Army in the Pacific, General Weyand was recalled by General Abrams to the Pentagon to be his principal deputy.

General Weyand, who is regarded by subordinates as possessing the same open warmness as General Abrams but with a layer of political suavity, has come to be known as General Abrams's alter ego in Pentagon deliberations. During General Abrams's illness, General Weyand sat in for the Army Chief of Staff and in the process, according to associates, favorably impressed Mr. Schlesinger.

If Mr. Schlesinger is leaning toward recommendation of General Weyand as the new Army chief, it is largely because he wants to continue policies instituted by General Abrams.

All‐Volunteer Force

To the delight of Mr. Schlesinger. General Abrams, who expressed open scorn of “paper pushers,” took the initiative in hammering “fat into swords” as he converted support forces into combat troops, sometimes at expense of reducing the commands and billets of his fellow generals.

In the face of considerable skepticism within the officer ranks, General Abrams also made the Army into an all‐volunteer force, no longer dependent upon draftees.

The unexpected reshuffling of the Army's top command comes at a time when there are reports that Gen. Alexander Mr. Haig Jr., who served as Army Vice Chief of Staff in 1973 before becoming White House chief of staff, will be recalled to active duty by President Ford.

While speculation has centered on his becoming Supreme Commander of Allied Forces, Europe, General Haig is known to have wanted to be Army Chief of Staff. Such a promotion for General Haig was considered unlikely In Pentagon circles.

Senator William Proxmire, Democrat of Wisconsin, said today that he would strenuously oppose any move to return General Haig to active duty and assign him to top military post. “Returning Alexander Haig to active duty status would send a clear signal throughout the military officer corps that politics pays off—and in a big way,” the Senator said in a statement.

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A version of this archives appears in print on September 5, 1974, on Page 42 of the New York edition with the headline: ARAMS POST SEEN GOING TO WPM. Order Reprints|Today's Paper|Subscribe